The residents of Dhaka are in a state of panic and uncertainty as reports of looting, robbing and mugging flooded on social media especially on Facebook in absence of the on-duty police over the last three days.
The same kinds of news have also been reported from different parts of the country.
In this situation, the Bangladesh Army, after the police force suspended its duties, has requested people to contact their nearest army camp if anyone faces any incident of sabotage, robbery, violence and life threats.
Robbery incidents have been reported in multiple areas, including Dhanmondi, Mohammadpur, Jafrabad, Bosila, Jigatola, ECB Chattar, Uttara, Mirpur and Jatrabari.
Meanwhile, the panic-gripped Dhaka residents formed area-wise patrol groups to ensure their respective neighbourhoods’ safety and security across the capital. It has been reported in Facebook that locals in many areas have managed to fend off the robbery attempts, catching several alleged robbers.
In some of the places, army personnel also fended off such attempts.
Along with forming the area-based petrol teams, locals also formed communications cells among citizens on different messaging platforms. Groups would go to areas identified as problem zones and report back on the matter to the petrol teams.
Many citizens also took to Facebook to report incidents of robbery and burglary.
Locals also made loudspeakers to make announcements asking people to take to the streets around midnight to confront the criminals.
The mosques in different areas of Dhaka also announced that robbers have entered their neighbourhoods and asked people to keep their doors locked. The residents are also be asked be alert and be prepared for defensive action anytime.
The social media reports also said some of the locals earlier saw dacoits armed with machetes and tried to apprehend them but the criminals ran away.
Dhaka residents in many areas have spent sleepless night from the fear of robberies and the anxious kinsmen called each other over phone to know whether they are safe and secured. In many residents people remained vigilant keeping the house lights off in fear of the criminals who are taking the advantages of the ongoing political situation and absence of police on the streets and their respective police stations.
The country has been facing an immense political turmoil along with social insecurity since Monday following the step down of Sheikh Hasina from the post of prime minister of the country.
Hasina stepped down and fled the country yesterday following the countrywide demonstration carried out by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. She is now in India, as Indian sources confirmed.
In the set back of this political development, the Army Chief of Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman on Monday addressed the nation and declared that an interim government will be formed soon.
Yesterday, the army chief said that a 15-member team of the interim government led by Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus is expected to take oath tonight at 8:00pm.
He also expected that normalcy will return within three to four days while the common people are expecting that the situation will come under control gradually once the interim government takes the helm of the country.
Meanwhile, the mass people also overflowed the social media making comments that they do not want any existing political parities to run the country.
BBN/AN/AD